The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1887-06-11
THE CROPS.
Report of the Department of Agriculture
for June.

Report of the Department of Agriculture
for June.
WASHINGTON, June 10.-June returns
of the Department of Agriculture indi-
cate a reduction of nearly two per cent.
in the area of winter wheat. The
changes in acreage of the States are very
slight except in Kansas where a reduc-
caused by the bad harvests and low
prices. The spring wheat area has been
enlarged six per cent. from the increase
of immigration and farm making west
of the Mississippi in the districts ira
versed by the Northern Pacific Railroad.
Most of the increase is in Dakota which
reports an increment of twenty-four per
cent. The total area of wheat is about
81, 900, 900 acres, a fraction of one per
cent. more than that of the previous
crop. In the condition of winter wheat
there is no marked change, the
average being siS, a reduction of nine
tenths of one per cent. In 1886 the June
average was 927. Reports of short straw
are very numerous. In some districts
there are indications that the yield of
grain will be larger proportiOnally than
of straw. If there is no increase from
this cause the yield must be less than the
average. The harvest Is already in pro-
gress up to the thirty-eighth degree of
north latitude. The condition of spring
wheat is good in Dakota and the terri
toriesog gestward, but below the average
records in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa
and Nebraska. The general average for
spring wheat is S73. which is lower than
in recent years, but thirteen points
higher than in 1885. At the harvesting
last year the condition averaged s. Dry
weather in April has been injurious to
winter wheat. Insects have committed
greater depredations than usual. The
central belt westward from Pennsyl
vania and Virginia has suffered local
damage from Hessian fly and chinch
bug.
In Illinois. Missouri and Kansas the
area of winter rye has been diminished
over six per cent, mainly by a large re-
duction in Kansas. The condition is
better than that of wheat. as usual av
eraging SS9. The apparent enlargement
of the barley acreage of three per cent.
is indicated. The increase is in Dakota,
California, Oregon and the territories,
the condition averaging 81, being slightly
above that of wheat. There is contin-
uance of the extension of oat culture.
The increase is four per cent This crop
has taken part of the area formerly in
wheat in Kansas, an advance of thirty
per cent. over the acreage of last year.
The increase is higher in the Northwest,
and there is a tendency to enlargement
in all sections of the country.
COTTON.
In the acreage of cotton an increase of
one per cent. is reported. There appears
to be slight decline in the States of the
Atlantic coast, and an increase west of
the Mississippi.
The State averages are Virginia, 80;
South Carolina, 9S: Florida, 81 +; Missis-
sippi, 1904; Texas, f06 Tennessee, 100:
North Carolina, 99.5; Georgia, 9S.5; Ala
bama, 100; Louisiana, 1O2; Arkansas,
1925.
The condition of cotton is higher than
in any June since 1880 average 96.9, and
has only been exceeded three times
since 1870. The best yield in that
period, however, was in 1882 when the
June condition was 50. figure that has
been discounted six times since 1870.
1t is a good beginning but does not en-
sure a good crop.
The State averages are: Virginia, 80:
South Carolina, 9S; Florida, 9S; Missis-
sippi, 80; Texas, 81; Tennessee. 81: North
Carolina, 80; Georgia, 80; Alabama, 80;
Louisiana. 81: Arkansas, 9S; general
average 96.9.
There is generally an unusually good
stand or plant In Texas the early
planted did not come up well. The late
planting is better. There is not a full
plant in some fields in Arkansas. Clean
cultivation is reported as a rule and
healthy color and good growth.